

VII 



142 THE HUMBLE-BEE 



By controlling breeding in the case of B. lapi- 

 darius, the yellow-banded variety of this species, 

 now so rare, could be easily established as a domestic 

 breed, and the yellow band broadened and bright- 

 ened. Also the British race could be crossed with 

 the more prolific races found in Europe, with the 

 expectation that a breed would be obtained that 

 would produce a much larger number of workers, 

 a similar crossing having had this effect in the case 

 of the honey-bee. Possibly with controlled breeding 

 closely-allied species could be bred together and 

 interesting hybrids obtained. 



